About

About the Organization

The young adult years are a time of change and growth, and quite frankly, a lot of awkwardness. Add a chronic illness in the mix and it seems like the perfect recipe for a disaster. Our hope is to connect teens together and create a comfortable environment for them to be their true self.

The Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network, formerly called the Crohn’s and Colitis Teen Times is a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting young adults with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. The Crohn’s and Colitis Teen Times is now our newsletter that is published four times a year.

Our History: The Crohn’s and Colitis Teen Times was created by Sneha Dave in 2012, with a whole lot of inspiration from Cory Lane, her late friend who had an adventurous and compassionate spirit. Cory had Crohn’s Disease and was a strong advocate until he passed away in May 2012. Since the initial creation of the Crohn’s and Colitis Teen Times, we have reached over 9,000 people.

Our Hope: We want you to become a member and help the community grow! Subscribe to us by emailing your name and email address and become part of the ever-growing family.

Connect with us: Is there anything you wish we would cover? Do you want to be published on our site? Email us at: ccyanetwork@gmail.com

Sneha Dave is a sophomore at Indiana University and was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at age six. She has undergone three major surgeries, including the removal of her entire large intestine in high school. She writes for outlets such as U.S. News and enjoys speaking at fundraising, leadership, and corporate events. Sneha also advocates on behalf of the United Nations third sustainable development goal, good health and well-being. In addition to the Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Association, Sneha is also the founder and executive director of the Health Advocacy Summit, a day long leadership event for high schoolers with chronic conditions.Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Julian Kritz is from Raleigh, North Carolina and was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when he was 11 years old. During his teen years, he struggled with periodic flare-ups, debilitating symptoms, and a litany of medicines. Overcoming these challenges, he graduated from a small liberal arts college in Minnesota and now is attending law school at the University of Virginia. His passions include sports, music, and politics.LinkedIn

Rocio Saavedra was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 5, after one year of different treatments and diagnoses. She lived in Canada for 4 years because her father worked in the Mexican Embassy in Canada as a military attaché. In 2016, she worked alongside with different Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations to set up an event in Puebla, Mexico to raise awareness about IBD. Now, she is currently an enrolled student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management and a second bachelor’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language in Mexico. On her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music and helping stray and lost pets. You can reach her at:Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Andi Nowakowski is 18 years old and is currently studying Biotechnology at Indiana University. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 8 and has seen then had her ups and downs through tests, a hospitalization, and treatment plans. Currently, she is on Methotrexate and has been in remission for going on 8 years. She enjoys running, spending time with friend, and cruising the world with her family.Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat @andrenow12
Email: andrea.nowakowski98@gmail.com

Do YOU want to become a part of the leadership team? Contact us at ccteentimes@yahoo.com for more information, or if you are interested in writing an article!